Universal bus-bar support



Patented` July l20, 1948 l UNIVERSAL BUS-BAR sUPPon'r Charles I. West,Forest Hills, Pa., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsbui-gh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 30,1944, Serial No. 538,077 Claims. (Cl. 174-70) My invention relates,generally, .to bus-bar supports and, more particularly. to supportssuitable for use in metal-enclosed switchgear.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a bus-barsupport which shall be simple and eiilcient in operation and which maybe economically manufactured and installed.

A more speciilc object of my invention is to provide a bus-bar supportwhich may be utilized with either one or a plurality of bus-bars perphase.

Another object of my invention is to provide a universal bus-bar supportcomprising a plurality of standard parts which may be assembled indiiIerent positions to support a different number of bus bars per phase.

A further object of my invention is lto provide a bus-bar support whichwill permit changes in the bus structure to be made readily after thestructure is installed.

Other objects o1' my invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, the bus bars of a busstructure are retained in position by spacing blocks which may beassembled in different positions to permit the utilization of 1, 2 or 3bars per phase in a threephase bus without changing the overall width ofthe bus'structure.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of any invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with .the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a three= phase bus structureembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a' view, in end elevation, of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views, similar .to Fig. 2, showing the 'spacingmembers arranged for 2 and 3 bus bars, respectively, per phase; V Fig. 5is a view, similar to Fig. 2, with the spacing members arranged for aneutral bar in addition .to the phase bus bars;

Fig. 6 is a view, in end elevation, oi' either a single-phase or a4direct-current bus structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing one manner of insulating the bus barsfrom the supporting structure;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View showing .the manner of insulating the ends of.the bus bars :from the metal enclosure, and

Fig. 9 is a view, in side elevation of one of blocks I5.

2 the spacing members utilized in practicing my invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there isshown therein a portion of a, switch-gear structure ,which may -be ofthe type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 538,076, ledMay 30, 1944, now Patent No. 2,424,345, July 22, 1947. The structureshown comprises vertically disposed frame members I0 and II, andhorizontally disposed bus-bar supporting members I2 which extend betweenthe frame members I0 and II and Iare'supported thereby. The supportmembers I2 are preferably of a channel shape and are provided with aplurality of openings I3 in the sides and top thereof. a

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, three rectangular bus bars I4 are disposededgewise on the horizontal bus supports I2 in spaced relation, therebyproviding a bus structure suitable for use in a three-phase powersystem. The bus bar for phase A is spaced from the vertical framemembersl I0 by rectangular blocks I5 which may be composed of a suitableinsulating material. The bus bar for phase B is spaced from the bars forphases A and C Iby rectangular blocks I6 which, as shown in Fig. 2, areslightly longer than the The lbus bar for phase C is spaced fromtriangular shaped braces I1 by additional blocks I5. The braces I'I maylbe attached to the support members I2 by bolts I8 which are insertedthrough lthe openings i3 in the top of .the channel I2.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bus bars I4 are insulated from the supportmember I2 by a channel-shaped member I9 which may be composed of asuitable insulating material. Each one of the :blocks l5 and i5 isretained in position by a bolt 2I which is threaded into theblock'through one of the openings I3 in the Itop of the channel memberI2. As shown in Fig."9, each one of the rectangular blocks is providedwith tapped .openings 22 and 23 in a side and end, respectively, of theblock for receiving the bolt 2i. It will be seen that fthe openings 22and 23 are disposed equal distances from one corner of each block.

l5 so that the bolt 2i may be inserted through the same hole I3 in thechannel I2 when the block is mounted endwise as when it is mountedsidewise on the channel I2.

In order to insulate the ends of the bus bars I4 'from any metal platewhich may be disposed at the end of the switchgear structure, aninsulating member 24, having -a cross section such as 3 shown in Fig. 8,may be substituted for the channel-shaped insulating member I9.

In accordance with the usual practice, the current-carrying capacity ofthe fbus structure may be increased by increasing the number of bus barsfor each phase. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, two bus bars Il may beprovided for each phase. The bars for each phase are spaced a slightdistance from each other by spacing members 25 which are preferablycomposed of the same material as the bus bars.

In order that the additional bus bars may be utilized without increasingthe overall width of the bus structure, the dimensions of therectangular spacing blocks I and I6 are such that the blocks may bearranged in different ways to provide the space required for theadditional bus bars and at the same time'firmly retain the bus bars inposition. Thus, as shown in Fig, 3, when two bus bars are utilized foreach phase, the spacing block I 6 between the bus bars for phases A andB is rotated through 90 and placed between the bus bars in an endwiseposition. Likewise, the spacing block I5 between the bus bars for phaseC and the brace I1 is rotated through 90 and mounted endwise instead ofsdewise. In this manner sufllcient space is made available to installthe three additional bus bars I4, and the three spacing members 25 oneof which is placed between the bus bars for each phase.

As shown in Fig. 4, when it is desired to utilize three bus bars perphase, all of the spacing members I5 and I6 are rotated through 90 andmounted endwise instead of sidewise. In this manner suiiicient space ismade available for three bus bars for each phase, and the necessaryspacing members 25 between the bus bars for each phase. Thus, it will beseen that 1, 2 or 3 bus bars per phase may be utilized without changingthe overall width of the bus structure.

In some three-phase power systems, a neutral conductor N is utilized inaddition to the phase conductors A, B and C. As shown in Fig. 5, aneutral bus bar 26 may be installed by substituting a spacing block 21for the block I5 between the bus bar for phase C and the brace I1. Theblock 21 is slightly shorter than the block I5, thereby providing thespace required for the neutral bus bar 26. The neutral bar may beinsulated from the brace I1 by an L-shaped insulating member 28 which issecured in position by the bolt 2| which secures the block 21, If it isdesired to increase the number of bus bars per phase when a neutral baris utilized, this may be done by rotating the spacing blocks I5, I6 and21 through 90 in the manner hereinbefore described.

When it is desired to install a single-phase or a direct-current powersystem which requires only two conductors, the structure shown in Fig. 6may be utilized. Since less space is required for a single-phase system,a shorter insulating channel member 29 may be substituted for thechannel member I9. Also only one spacing block I6 is required in placeof two as in the threephase structure. Space may be made available forinstalling additional bus bars by rotating the spacing members I5 and I8through 90 in the manner hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description. it is apparent that I have provided auniversal bus-bar support which may be utilized with one or a pluralityof bus bars for each phase of a polyphase system and which is alsosuitable for use in single-phase or direct-current systems. Thesupporting structure is composed of a relatively small number ofstandard parts which may be arranged in different ways to provide spacefor the desired number of conductors. Thus. changes and additions may bemade without requiring new parts. Furthermore, the structure may bereadily assembled by the factory personnel of a manufacturing companywithout requiring engineering drawings for each particular installation.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction.and diderent embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bus structure comprising, a horizontally disposed support memberhaving a plurality of openings through the top thereof. rectangular busbars disposed edgewise on the support member in spaced relation,rectangular spacing members disposed between said bars, a brace securedto said support member, an additional rectangular spacing memberdisposed between one of said bars and the brace, and bolts extendingthrough said openings into said spacing members for retaining them inposition, said spacing members being rotatable about a transverse axisof the members through an angle of to provide space for additional busbars and having openings in the sides and ends thereof for receivingsaid bolts when so rotated.

2. A bus bar structure comprising, a. horizontally disposed supportmember having a plurality of openings through the top thereof,rectangular bus bars disposed edgewise on the support member in spacedrelation, rectangular spacing members disposed between said bars, abrace secured to said support member, an additional rectangular spacingmember disposed between one of said bars and the brace, and boltsextending through said openings into said spacing members for retainingthem in position, said spacing members being rotatable about atransverse axis of the members through an angle of 90 to provide spacefor additional bus bars and having openings in the sides and endsthereof for receiving said bolts when so rotated, the openings in saidadditional spacing member being disposed equal distances from one cornerthereof.

3. A bus structure comprising a horizontally disposed support memberhaving a plurality of openings through the top thereof, rectangular busbars disposed edgewise on the support member in spaced relation,rectangular spacing members disposed between said bars. and bolts extending through said openings into said spacing members for retaining themin position, said spacing members being rotatable about an axis of themembers through an angle of 90 to provide space for additional bus barsand having openings in the sides and ends thereof for receiving saidbolts when so rotated.

4. A bus structure comprising, a horizontally disposed support memberhaving a plurality of openings through the top thereof, rectangular busbars disposed edgewise on the support member in spaced relation,insulating spacing members disposed between said bars, and boltsextending through said openings into said spacing members for retainingthem in position, said spacing members being rotatable about an axis ofthe members through an angle of 90 to proextending through said openingsinto said specing members for retaining them in position, said spacingmembers being rotatable about an axis of the members through an angle of90" to pro- 15 2,303,999

n Q l vide space for additional bus bers for each phase and havingopenings therein for receiving seid bolts when so rotated.

CHARLES P. WEST.

REFERENCES crrm The following references 1|.x'e`v oi record in the illeof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number K Name Dete 692,831 Murdock Sept. 17, 19011,582,850 Miner Apr. 27, i928 1,979,090 Alsaker et al. Oct. 30, 1934Haguelet Dec. l, 1942

